In praise of Lawson Glowire

**cmoulder** · 11-08-2018, 06:50

I use 7mm Antal rings instead of biners, which was a brilliant suggestion from Kaptainkriz in the White Blaze thread.

I really should do a separate thread on this... maybe next week after getting some updated pix this weekend.

**cmoulder** · 11-08-2018, 07:01

And true, the Ultraglide line is overkill for short solo trips. However the Skilman setup comes in darn handy when I'm hoisting for 4-5 people for 3-4 nights!

**HandyRandy** · 11-08-2018, 12:38

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Yes, I know.. but that that cordage has some serious bulk to it.. 50' of that is about three times the mass of 50' of Zingit.. and weighs three times as much too.

It’s 1.7 oz per 50’ of 2.3mm Ultraglide Bear Line; and 2 oz per 50’ of 2mm Glowire. It’s certainly not comparable to Zing it, but you were considering Glowire and it’s definitely a better alternative for this application. IMO, it’s nice to have something more robust for potential uses in more scenarios.

**cmoulder** · 11-12-2018, 17:43

Well drats... trouble in Paradise!

So I did a 2-night trip this holiday weekend at Harriman SP with MikekiM and therefore have used Glowire on my HG Hex for a whopping total of 3 nights. We were breaking camp this morning and I was very disappointed to see a really bad breach in the sheath of the ridge line! The tarp was strung up to an oak tree with scraggly bark, but I had not been handling the cord any differently than I would other ridge line or guy line material.

Glowire_Breach.jpg

I checked every millimeter of the remaining cord and found no other areas of abrasion on the ridge line or the corner guy outs. I'm hoping this was just a fluke, but unfortunately it does not inspire confidence.

Aside from that, the amount of reflectivity is astonishing... with a normal headlight shining on them they make your tarp look like it is assembled with a frame made of Star Wars Lightsabers.

I'll keep using this cord and see how it holds up long term. However I feel it's best to be upfront and report the bad along with the good.

**MikekiM** · 11-13-2018, 06:00

Ridge line... hmm.. surprised. I was expecting it to be on one of the ground corners thinking maybe it got tagged driving a stake in.

As far as reflective.. this stuff is insane. It's unlike any other reflective cord I have used or seen. There aren't specks of light from the tracers, the entire cord it lit up like a glow stick. It made mine look like I had no reflective cord at all..

**Bothwell Voyageur** · 11-13-2018, 14:43

I've seen damage like that on my tarp lines before. In my case I'm pretty sure it was caused by something chewing on the lines.

Are you sure you didn't have a hungry squirrel sampling your Lawson line?

**cmoulder** · 11-13-2018, 14:45

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Ridge line... hmm.. surprised. I was expecting it to be on one of the ground corners thinking maybe it got tagged driving a stake in.

As far as reflective.. this stuff is insane. It's unlike any other reflective cord I have used or seen. There aren't specks of light from the tracers, the entire cord it lit up like a glow stick. It made mine look like I had no reflective cord at all..

Yeah, real bummer. I had it rolled up when I showed it to you and didn't know if it was RL or guy line. Wouldn't have been nearly as concerned about it had it been a guy line that I whacked with a rock.

**cmoulder** · 11-13-2018, 14:47

Originally Posted by Bothwell Voyageur

I've seen damage like that on my tarp lines before. In my case I'm pretty sure it was caused by something chewing on the lines.

Are you sure you didn't have a hungry squirrel sampling your Lawson line?

Hmm... I don't think so, but possible. I'll keep using it and time will tell! Maybe there's something about it that critters find tasty.

**Mountainfitter** · 11-15-2018, 22:57

Something either chewed or cut that jacket. That is not a braid defect. Every inch of cord I make runs through my hands and I throw away (recycle) any line with a defect. And when there is a defect, it would not be noticeable to anyone that doesn't braid lines. Were talking a broken filament or a filament loop. Not cut or broken strands like what your picture shows. Either way, it sounds like you are not happy with your purchase. I stand behind everything I make. So please send me your name, address and how long that hank was and I will send you a new hank out for free. Info @ LawsonEquipment dot com

Thanks,
Lawson

**HandyRandy** · 11-15-2018, 23:21

Originally Posted by Mountainfitter

I have been using the word wire at the end of my cords since I started making them in 2009-2010. (Glowire, Ironwire, Guywire, Vectranwire, Survivalwire, etc.)

Welcome back, Lawson! I have only been knowing about you guys for a little while now, so I’m curious about these new names quoted above that I personally haven’t heard about before. They aren’t listed for sale on your website, so I was just wondering what happened to them? Are they all simply previous iterations that are no longer worthwhile now that you have Statline and Glowire?